[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 27 (Monday, February 10, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 6761-6762]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-3165]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[CO-160-03-1220-DU-241E]


Notice of Intent To prepare a Recreation Area Management Plan and 
an Amendment to the Gunnison Resource Management Plan for the Hartman 
Rocks Recreation Area

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare a Recreation Area Management Plan 
(RAMP) and an amendment to the Gunnison Resource Management Plan (RMP) 
for the Hartman Rocks Recreation Area in Gunnison County, Colorado.

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SUMMARY: The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) intends to prepare a RAMP 
with an associated Environmental Assessment (EA) for the Hartman Rocks 
area near Gunnison, Colorado. The planning area encompasses 
approximately 10,000 acres of public land. This proposed action is 
being taken in response to increasing use and the changing needs and 
interests of public land users of this popular recreation area located 
near the city of Gunnison. The BLM will work collaboratively with 
interested parties to identify the management decisions that

[[Page 6762]]

are best suited to local, regional, and national needs and concerns. 
The public scoping process will identify planning issues and develop 
planning criteria, including an evaluation of the existing management 
direction in the context of the needs and interests of the public. It 
is probable that the collaborative planning process will recommend 
changes to the Gunnison RMP for this area so this notice provides for 
this contingency. If desired management actions identified in the 
planning process can be carried out within the existing guidance of the 
RMP then an RMP Amendment will not be necessary.

DATES: This notice initiates the public scoping process. Comments on 
issues and planning criteria may be submitted in writing to the address 
listed below and will be accepted throughout the creation of the Draft 
RAMP/Draft EA. All public meetings will be announced through the local 
news media, newsletters, and other mediums at least 15 days prior to 
the event. The minutes and list of attendees for each meeting will be 
available to the public and open for 30 days to any participant who 
wishes to clarify the views they expressed. Public meetings will be 
held throughout the plan scoping and preparation period. To ensure 
local community participation and input, public meetings will be 
scheduled at times that are convenient for the public to attend. Early 
participation is encouraged to help determine the future management of 
the Hartman Rocks Recreation Area.

ADDRESSES: Written comments should be sent to Bureau of Land 
Management, Gunnison Field Office, 216 N. Colorado St., Gunnison, CO 
81230; Fax (970) 642-4425. Documents pertinent to this proposal may be 
examined at the Gunnison Field Office. Comments, including names and 
street addresses of respondents, will be available for public review at 
the Gunnison Field Office during regular business hours (7:30am to 
4:30pm), Monday through Friday, except holidays, and may be published 
as part of the EA. Individual respondents may request confidentiality. 
If you wish to withhold your name or street address from public review 
or from disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act, you must state 
this prominently at the beginning of your written comment. Such 
requests will be honored to the extent allowed by law. All submissions 
from organizations and businesses, and from individuals identifying 
themselves as representatives or officials of organizations or 
businesses, will be available for public inspection in their entirety.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further information and/or to have 
your name added to our mailing list, contact Arden Anderson, 
Telephone--(970) 642-4454; [email protected]

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Hartman Rocks Recreation Area is a 
popular site for a variety of recreation activities in the urban 
interface zone near Gunnison, Colorado. The increased use over the 
years as well as changing needs and interests of the public 
necessitates a more detailed management strategy beyond the general 
guidelines contained in the Gunnison RMP (completed in 1993). 
Preliminary issues and management concerns have been identified by BLM 
personnel, other agencies, and in meetings with individuals and user 
groups. They represent the BLM's knowledge to date on the existing 
issues and concerns with current management. The major issue themes 
that will be addressed in the plan include: Management and protection 
of public land resources; recreation/visitor use and safety; access and 
transportation on the public lands; integrating management with the 
needs of the community and other agencies; reducing conflicts between 
different public land visitors and balancing multiple uses.
    After gathering public comments on what issues the plan should 
address, the suggested issues will be placed in one of three 
categories:
    1. Issues to be resolved in the plan;
    2. Issues resolved through policy or administrative action; or
    3. Issues beyond the scope of this plan.
    Rationale will be provided in the plan for each issue placed in 
category two or three. In addition to these major issues, a number of 
management questions and concerns will be addressed in the plan. The 
public is encouraged to help identify these questions and concerns 
during the scoping phase.
    An interdisciplinary approach will be used to develop the plan in 
order to consider the variety of resource issues and concerns 
identified. Disciplines involved in the planning process will include 
specialists with expertise in outdoor recreation, rangeland management, 
archaeology, wildlife, fisheries and soils.

    Dated: December 6, 2003.
Barry A. Tollefson,
Gunnison Field Manager.
[FR Doc. 03-3165 Filed 2-7-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-JB-P